- The UK has significantly modernised the Dar es Salaam port and contributed £10 million to the Maritime Gateway Project.
- Rachel Kyte, the UK’s Special Representative on Climate Change, announced an £8.5 million UK contribution to the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa.
The United Kingdom is ramping up its engagement with Tanzania as Lord Collins, a senior UK minister, embarks on a two-day visit to expand cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, and renewable energy.
This visit marks the first visit by a UK minister since the new British administration took office in July 2024, signalling a renewed commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. During his visit, Lord Collins will tour the Port of Dar es Salaam, a key trade hub for Tanzania and the wider East African region.
The UK has played a significant role in modernising the port, contributing £10 million towards the Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project as part of a broader £55 million investment in Tanzanian infrastructure over the past decade.
The visit will also evaluate progress on the Shared Prosperity Agreement, a trade and investment pact signed in April 2024. Lord Collins will meet with Tanzanian ministers, business leaders, and senior government officials to discuss strategies for increasing trade flows and strengthening investment partnerships.
Since the agreement’s signing, the UK has committed a new $45 million investment in renewable energy and telecommunications through British International Investment (BII). In addition, the UK has made £5.5 million in affordable loans available to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Tanzania, reinforcing the UK’s role in fostering economic growth.
Lord Collins will launch a feasibility study to explore investment opportunities in Tanzania’s critical minerals sector as part of the UK’s drive to support Tanzania’s sustainable energy transition. These minerals are essential for renewable energy technologies, and the UK’s Manufacturing Africa Program will back the study.
Lord Collins will also visit an electric vehicle manufacturing company, reflecting the UK’s interest in green mobility solutions and Tanzania’s potential as a hub for sustainable industrial development.
“Tanzania is a close friend of the UK, and our long-standing partnership continues to grow each day,” Lord Collins stated before his visit. “From strengthening trade and investment to enhancing infrastructure and tackling climate change, Tanzania and the UK are ready to work together to unlock opportunities for mutual prosperity.”
The minister’s visit follows Rachel Kyte, the UK’s Special Representative on Climate Change, who was in Dar es Salaam last month for the Africa Energy Mission 300 Conference.
During her trip, she announced an £8.5 million UK contribution to the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), a key initiative of the African Development Bank that aims to boost private-sector investment in renewable energy projects across Africa.
The UK’s expanding commitment to Tanzania underscores its broader strategy of deepening economic ties with African nations while promoting sustainable energy and industrialisation. As Tanzania looks to modernise its infrastructure and tap into its vast renewable energy potential, the UK’s engagement will play a pivotal role in shaping its development trajectory.